THE FORTS OF FERNANDO DE NORONHA, Brazil

ASIA	AFRICA	NORTH AMERICA		ITINERARIES and IMAGES AROUND THE WORLD: SOUTH AMERICA ITINERARI e IMMAGINI ATTORNO AL MONDO: SUD AMERICA
SOUTH AMERICA	EUROPE	OCEANIA

THE FORTS OF FERNANDO DE NORONHA

written by Marco Ramerini

THE FORTS OF FERNANDO DE NORONHA
Fernando de Noronha was discovered by the Florentine Amerigo Vespucci in 1503. In 1504, the Crown granted the archipelago, as a "capitania hereditaria", to a Portuguese lord, Fernão de Loronha, from whom it takes its name. Occupied by several other European nations (Dutch and French) during the 17^th and early 18^th centuries. Only from 1737 on, after the expulsion of the French, which have taken possession of the island in 1736, Fernando de Noronha was definitively occupied by Portugal. Portugal decided to fortify the island conveniently. For this purpose, ten forts were built in all strategic points where a possibility of disembarkation existed. Nine in the main island and one in the Ilha de São José situated in front of the Saint Anthony harbour. All the forts were connected by a network of stone roads. The defence system was planned by the Portuguese militar engineer Diogo da Sylveira Vellozo.
FORTS ON THE MAR DE DENTRO: Fortaleza Nossa Senhora Dos Remédios, Vila dos Remédios.
It's the biggest fort of the whole defensive system built by the Portuguese in the XVIII century. It's situated on a hill between the Saint Anthony Harbour and the Praia do Cachorro. This fort it's the best conservate of the whole island. Click here for the page dedicate to this fort

Fortaleza Nossa Senhora Dos Remédios, Vila dos Remédios, Fernando de Noronha.

Forte de São José do Morro, Ilha de São José.

This fort was built between 1758-1761, it's the only fort that was built on a secondary island (Ilha de São José). It has still imposing ruins and from the Ponta do Santo Antônio is clearly visible the gate of the fort, on the seaside are still visible several cannons.

Forte de São José do Morro, Ilha de São José, Fernando de Noronha.

Forte de Santo Antônio, Ponta do Santo Antônio, Fernando de Noronha.

Forte de Sant'Ana, Vila dos Remédios, Cachorro.

Built in the middle of the XVIII century, the fort had six cannons and was later transformed in a Navy Quarter (quartel). This fort was situated over the old harbour in the village of Vila dos Remédios.

Forte de Sant'Ana, Vila dos Remédios, Cachorro, Fernando de Noronha.

Forte de Nossa Senhora da Conceição, Ponta do Meio.

This fort was built in 1737. At the end of the XIX century a hospital was built over the fort ruins. The ruins of the fort/hospital are still visible on the vegetation.

Forte de Nossa Senhora da Conceição, Ponta do Meio, Fernando de Noronha.

Forte de Santa Cruz do Pico, Praia da Conceição.

This fort was built in XVIII century. This was a small redoubt located near the Italcable house in the middle of the Praia da Conceição.

Forte de Santa Cruz do Pico, Praia da Conceição, Fernando de Noronha.

Forte de São Pedro do Boldró, Praia do Boldró.

This fort was built in XVIII century. It's located on the hill that separates Praia do Boldró from the Praia do Americano. The ruins are still clearly visible, this is the preferite place for sunset in Fernando de Noronha. According to the map the fort had a rectangular shape, but the actual ruins seems more circular on the seaside.